Talk about becomings victims of your own success.
Mainz coach Bo Svensson always knew this was a possibility. After guiding a side who narrowly avoided relegation in 2021 to within touching distance of a European place just 12 months later, Svensson was under no illusions about how tough it would be keeping together a talented squad of players.
Particularly with two of his key men entering the final 12 months of their contracts.
“They might both go,” Svensson said of his much-coveted centre-back duo Jerry St Juste and Moussa Niakhate. “To think that both will stay is very optimistic.
“Everyone sees the quality they both have. They still have a year left on their contracts and you don’t go into the last year of a contract with players like that without them either extending or going somewhere else.
“They are both absolute leaders. Should they leave us, I am very grateful for the time I’ve spent with them here. We’ll have to try to replace them in that case.”
The prophecy, it seems, is on the way to being fulfilled. St Juste has gone already, joining Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon for a cool £9 million, and Niakhate could soon be backing his bags too.
Nottingham Forest now lead Moussa Niakhate chase
According to The Athletic, Nottingham Forest have entered talks to sign Mainz’ penalty-taking, armband-wearing defensive lynchpin. Niakhate, who is valued at around £8 million, recently turned down Wolfsburg and has made a move to the Premier League his top priority.
The Athletic adds that the former France U21 international has ‘previously attracted interest from other Premier League clubs’. The word ‘previously’ stands out a mile. Previously, after all, means past tense. In the present, it seems that Nottingham Forest are the only club in active pursuit of Niakhate.
Everton and West Ham United were linked a couple of weeks ago, via The Telegraph. Since then, Everton have turned to James Tarkowski, a deal for the Burnley stopper all-but sealed and signed. West Ham, meanwhile, are on the verge of announcing Rennes’ Nayef Aguerd, despite late competition from Newcastle. Links with Niakhate, for both clubs, dried up some time ago.
So Mainz’s loss looks almost certain to be Nottingham Forest’s gain.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
